The Trash Pandas will host the Rocket City Baseball Classic starting Wednesday

MADISON – Baseball will be played at Toyota Field this week.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas announced the brand-new venue will host the Rocket City Baseball Classic beginning Wednesday, June 17.

Fifteen travel select teams representing the region will play a round-robin tournament format of 29 games over a five-day span. VBA will square off against 43 in the first contest scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Toyota Field.

Nine games will be played at James Clemens HS throughout the weekend.

“Baseball at this ballpark has been a long time coming,” said Trash Pandas President & CEO Ralph Nelson. “The sound of the ball hitting the bat will echo throughout the ballpark, concession stands will be open, the 7th Inning Stretch, and of course an umpire bellowing ‘play ball’…we can’t wait to play these games at this amazing facility.”

The field of teams also includes Madison Express, Dinger, Caba 17, Caba 16, Green Wave, Blue Wave 17, Blue Wave 16, Giants 1, Giants 2, Raiders 16, Raiders 17, Blue Sox 17, and Blue Sox 16.

A 5:30 p.m. contest will follow Wednesday’s tournament opener. Toyota Field will host games on Thursday at Noon, 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Friday will see contests beginning at 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. A total of seven games are scheduled for Saturday with start times of 8 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 7:40 p.m., and 9:50 p.m. The tournament will culminate on Sunday with games at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

For the full schedule of matchups visit TrashPandasBaseball.com/events.

Daily general admission tickets are $10 each. Kids 2 and under are admitted at no charge, and there is no parking fee for this event. Tickets are on sale now at TrashPandasBaseball.com/Events, in-person at the Toyota Field Ticket Office during regular business hours, or by calling (256) 325-1403 ext. 1.

Toyota Field food and beverage will be available during each game. Nelson said the event is a Center for Disease Control (CDC) compliant event.

The tournament is added to a slate of activities the organization has produced since the latest amendments to the state’s Safer at Home Order. Trash Pandas Block Parties featuring fireworks, live entertainment, and more are scheduled for June 19 and July 3. Last week, the organization announced a Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 4.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas are the Double-A Affiliate of MLB’s Angels. The Trash Pandas play games, and host events, at state-of-the-art Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama and are members of the Southern League. For directions to Toyota Field please visit TrashPandasBaseball.com.